Kapitel 637: Sakumo's Decision

Minato's words shocked everyone present. The Konoha ninjas had not expected that Minato would not only agree to such demands but also insist on taking Kushina with him.

Is this man genius or foolish?

Question marks popped up in the minds of the Konoha ninjas.

"Agreed!"

Juzo almost instantly accepted the request. In his mind, this was hardly a demand; if it meant successfully taking Minato, an additional hostage didn't matter.

Of course.

In just a moment.

Juzo had already planned how to deal with Kushina. It wasn't too complicated—if they could take Minato, capturing him alive, they could execute him and hand the still-living Kushina over to Danzo for whatever he wished to do with her. Whether Danzo wanted to kill her or use her differently, it no longer mattered to them once they completed their mission of killing Minato.

So, to them, taking Kushina was not a burden. As long as Minato complied, this mission would actually be one of the easiest they had ever carried out.

"No!"

Sakumo immediately objected. His expression was stern, his face a mask of grim resolve. There was a better time to consider the struggle for the position of Hokage. He was a ninja of Konoha, and so was Minato. He could not accept this development, not just personally but as a matter of pride for Konoha.

As a Konoha ninja, he could not bear to watch a fellow villager being taken away. It was a disgrace they could not erase, a stain on their honor that would haunt them for years.

"Minato, you must not go with them!"

Sakumo emphasized again. He clenched his fists tightly; his chakra blades were long broken, reducing his combat effectiveness, yet he could not stand by and watch this happen.

"Yes, Minato, don't go with them!"

"It's clearly a trap!"

"There's no such employer; that can't be true!"

"If you go with them, you're falling into their trap!"

"We owe our lives to you; you don't need to protect us anymore!"

"We know they are powerful; we might as well fight!"

"We can get through this great challenge together!"

The Konoha ninjas, one after another, aligned themselves with Minato, having already accepted him as their leader. After a brief moment of shock, they realized that Minato was not foolish enough not to see through the enemy's schemes. The only reason he would act this way was to protect them.

The Konoha ninjas, realizing this, were even more determined not to let Minato make such a sacrifice. Each of their gazes filled with hope; they wished for Minato to speak his true thoughts openly so they could fight for him.

But if Minato insisted on his decision without explanation…

The crowd would still have to follow his command, as obedience is a core principle of being a ninja. This reverence for Minato's command made them treasure his orders even more and hope he would reveal his true intentions.

"I can do it!"

Just then, a crisp voice cut through the air, drawing the attention of everyone present.

It was Kushina.

"I will go with you!"

Her voice was firm, with no hint of hesitation. Her gaze towards Minato was full of determination, her posture radiating confidence and devoid of any fear.

Kushina's expression caught everyone's attention, inspiring admiration. They saw her actions as a testament to the love between her and Minato—a girl willing to risk everything for love, fully aware of the dangers yet still choosing to face them together.

However…

Except for Minato, no one really believed that Kushina could defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist alone. To everyone else, although she was a skilled kunoichi, this was not her stage to shine.

Somewhere in the crowd…

A Konoha ninja, unnoticed until now, looked at Kushina with satisfaction, nodding almost imperceptibly. He knew that Kushina had reached her peak, her abilities not far from Naruto's in the future, perhaps even greater.

This ninja was Aoba.

However, Aoba did not reveal his true identity, which is inappropriate for this setting. Yet, he remained to ensure Minato's safety.

Aoba had orchestrated much to ensure Minato's smooth succession as Konoha's Hokage.

If he had simply stayed in the shadows, doing nothing, history would still propel Minato to become the Fourth Hokage. But the flutter of a butterfly's wings had already altered the course of history, even hastening and concluding the Third Ninja World War prematurely.

In this altered history, if Aoba remained inactive, the destiny of the Hokage title could shift, possibly leaving Minato merely as a top-level Jonin of Konoha, equivalent to the legendary Sannin, or earning him a posthumous title after achieving something monumental, reaching a stature like Sakumo's current standing.

That was not what Aoba wanted…

If he, or someone else, hadn't come to this world, the fate of this world wouldn't concern him. But witnessing events unfold, he refused to let them deviate from his desired path.

As long as the main theme was correct, the rest didn't matter. But if the main theme were wrong, he'd have to intervene.

Seeing Minato's decision and Kushina's agreement, Aoba knew they both recognized each other's strengths.

This wasn't about showing off.

Nor was it about protecting the Konoha ninjas at the scene.

Strictly speaking.

They could perform better if it were just the two of them.

The Konoha ninjas were extremely tired. Their presence wouldn't aid but rather hinder the fight.

By letting the ninjas leave, they could freely confront the seven opponents.

Aoba nodded to himself, understanding from Minato and Kushina's responses that they had made a calculated decision. He fully supported their thinking; if it were him, he would have done the same, as the current Konoha ninjas really couldn't contribute much.

"Okay!"

Juzo gave Kushina a thumbs-up, his eyes shining with admiration and awe. He marveled at the courage of such a young girl; his hastily concocted excuse was quite poor, yet she chose to follow it.

Her courage was commendable, her love invaluable!

Juzo, hearing Sakumo's words, felt a twinge of concern, especially seeing the united front of the Konoha ninjas. He worried they might convince Minato to change his mind.

If a battle ensued, although confident in their ability to kill Minato, it would inevitably cause further damage to Konoha.

Juzo knew Danzo was cunning. If he mishandled this situation, he could easily be blamed for Minato's death, with the many casualties at the scene used as evidence against their village.

This was a crucial point of the mission!

Killing Minato was easy.

The challenge was killing him without harming any Konoha ninjas.

Only under such conditions would the contract with Danzo truly be fulfilled.

As Juzo pondered the possible changes in the situation, Kushina stepped forward, her resolute voice bolstering Minato's confidence.

"I will go with you!"

Minato declared forcefully. After speaking, he quickly clarified, "No, we will go with you!"

As Minato made this statement, Kushina stepped decisively to his side. Although they weren't far apart, her determined stride made it clear to everyone, earning their respect. They questioned themselves whether they could do the same; even many spouses might desert each other in crisis, let alone mere friends.

"No, no, no!"

"It can't happen!"

"It shouldn't be this way!"

"Minato, you can't do this!"

"Don't go! Please don't!"

"We can face whatever it is together!"

The Konoha ninjas voiced their protests, feeling a chill as they sensed Minato might have already agreed to the seven's demands based on his firm tone.

They knew the ninja mindset well; once a decision was made, it was hard to retract, as each followed their steadfast path.

Sakumo was silent, watching Minato's figure and suddenly feeling the young man looked very imposing. Unknowingly, he had come to respect Minato deeply.

If Minato survived...

Sakumo would endorse him as Konoha's next Hokage.

But if Minato met with misfortune...

Sakumo would thoroughly investigate. Who was behind this? Who wanted to harm Minato?

He had a clue, but he hoped it wasn't true and lacked proof.

He had always felt something amiss but hadn't delved deep, not for lack of ability but from a reluctance to face potentially disturbing truths.

Revealing such truths could shatter his romantic view of the Hokage, turning it grotesque. He'd rather die than witness such ugliness destroy his cherished beliefs.

But now...

It seemed time to confront reality.

Sakumo made a silent vow: regardless of Minato's fate, he would clarify this affair.

This wasn't just about him anymore; it was about the whole village. He couldn't let Konoha remain under a dark cloud. He was determined to restore clear skies to the village.

"I hope you keep your promise and let them go safely!"

Minato ignored the protests and addressed Juzo sternly. His primary concern was ensuring the safety of Konoha's ninjas. Once assured, he could fully engage in the upcoming challenge.